Vianden Castle

A Romanesque and Gothic castle on a hill above the Our valley, counted among the largest and finest feudal residences west of the Rhine.

The castle stands about 310 metres above sea level and looks down on the River Our, which flows roughly 100 metres below. The castle and its buildings are about 90 metres long. It was built in the Romanesque style between the 11th and 14th centuries, with Gothic parts added at the end. A Renaissance mansion was added in the 17th century. After that the castle fell into ruin, but it has been carefully restored and is open to visitors.

How old is the site?

The first structure on the hill was probably built around the year 275 as a Roman shelter on the great road from Reims to Cologne. It was abandoned between 430 and 440, and a medieval stone castle was built around the year 1000. The first Count of Vianden is recorded in 1090, and his family ruled from the castle until the early 15th century.

From ruin to museum

After the 17th century the castle was allowed to decay. A long restoration began in 1977 and brought the castle back to life. Among its famous visitors was the writer Victor Hugo, who stayed in Vianden in 1871. Today it is fully restored and open to visitors. Its counts were influential in the region, and today the castle is widely regarded as the best castle to visit in Luxembourg, in the Our valley of the far north.

On the globe

The model shows a Romanesque and Gothic castle on a hill above the Our valley. Look for the towers and the stepped hilltop.